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New York Consolidated Laws, State Law - STL § 7-a. Jurisdiction and ownership of offshore waters and lands thereunder

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. The jurisdiction of this state shall extend to and over, and be exercisable with respect to, waters offshore from the coasts of this state as follows:

(a) Those portions of the Great Lakes lying within the territorial limits of this state.

(b) The marginal sea to a line three geographical miles distant from the coast line and to any other line farther seaward therefrom hereinafter defined or recognized by the United States of America by international treaty or otherwise.

(c) The high seas to whatever extent jurisdiction therein may be claimed by the United States of America, or to whatever extent may be recognized by the usages and customs of international law or by any agreement, international or otherwise, to which the United States of America or this state may be party.

(d) All submerged lands, including the subsurface thereof, lying under said aforementioned waters.

2. The ownership of the waters and subsurface lands enumerated or described in subdivision one of this section shall be in this state unless it shall be, with respect to any given parcel or area, in any other person or entity by virtue of a valid and effective instrument of conveyance or by operation of law.

3. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit or restrict in any way (1) the jurisdiction of this state over any person or with respect to any subject within or without the state which jurisdiction is exercisable by reason of citizenship, residence or for any other reason recognized by law;  (2) jurisdiction or ownership of or over any other waters or lands thereunder, within or forming part of the boundaries of this state.  Nor shall anything herein be construed to impair the exercise of legislative jurisdiction by the United States of America over any area to which such jurisdiction has been validly ceded by this state and which remains in the ownership of the United States of America.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - New York Consolidated Laws, State Law - STL § 7-a. Jurisdiction and ownership of offshore waters and lands thereunder - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/state-law/stl-sect-7-a/

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